Venetian blind slat



Oct. 1940- o. ENGSTFZOM VENETIAN BLIND SLAT 3 Sheets Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 16, 1939 'INVENTOR Oscar-L BY .EngsD-om.

ATTORNEY Oct. 8, 1940.

0. L. ENGSTROM VENETIAN BLIND SLAT Filed Feb. 16, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 l N vNTo R OscarLEngsIrnm.

ATTORN EY Patented Oct. 8, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to window coverings, and more particularly to an improved slat for a Venetian blind. 1

One object of this invention is to provide a Venetian blind slat which is constructed of thin sheet metal strips, spaced apart and stiffened by a thin metallic filler member which is adapted to permit ventilation through the slat.

A further object is to produce a Venetian blind slat which will be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, simple in construction, compact, ornamental in appearance, easy to clean, noiseless, light in weight, fire-proof, which will not curl or warp, and very efificient and durable in use.-

With these and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, there have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, several forms inwhich the invention may "be conveniently embodied in practice.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of part of a Venetian blind embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of one" of the improved slats, showing the first form of filler member.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the improved slat, showing the parts thereof in separated relationship prior to assembly.

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view on a larger scale of a rubber end capfor the slats.

Fig. 5 is a broken enlarged detail view, showing a slat having a modified second form of .filler member.

Fig. 6 is a broken detail view of a slat, showing a modified third form of filler member.

Fig. 7 is a broken vdetail view, showing a modified-fourth form of filler member.

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are broken detail views at a modified fifth form of filler member. I

Fig. 11 shows a modified sixth form of filler member.

Figs. 12 and 13 show slats having two other modified forms of filler members. L Figs. 14 and 15 show two additional modified forms of slats wherein no filler members are used.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views, Fig. 1 discloses the general appearance of part of a Venetian blind embodying the principles and features of this invention; which comprises a plurality ofhorizon-' tal slats Ill, spaced apart and connected in the conventional manner by pairs of fabric strips II lowered, as well as. opened and closed, by said strips and said central cord it in the usual manner.

Referring now to the first form of slat shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the numeral M denotes a flat metallic upper strip of sheet metal adapted to form one face portion of the slat, and the numeral l5 indicates a second metallic lower strip of sheet metal adapted to form the other'face portion of the slat. The'lower strip i5 is offset upwardly at its ends to form vertical sides [6 and I1 and outwardly extending horizontal side edges [8 and I9, which are adapted to abut against the under surface of the strip 14 and be formed therewith into double lock seams 20 and H.

-In ordertostifien and reinforce the slat, provision is made'of an elongated filler member 22, formed of sheet metal, having lengthwise corrugations 23 extending the full width of said slat, and said filler piece 22 being disposed between the parallel upper and lower strips M and I5 for holding said strips Id and i5 spaced apart. The corrugations 23 in the filler member 22 are formed with relatively sharp angled V-shaped corners 26, connected by fiat alternately inclined portions 25.

At the center of each slat provision is made of an elongated hollow eyelet 26 preferably of metal, extending through the strips It and i5 of the slat Ill and the corrugated filler piece 22 with its long axis crosswise of said slat ,to provide a smooth passageway therethrough for the cord it. The eyelet 26 has upper and lower flanges 21 and 28 which overlie the upper and lower'strips H3 and I5 respectively.

At each end of the slat provision is made of a protective noise-preventing and shock absorbing end cap 29, preferably of rubber, althoughmetalor molded composition may be substituted if desired. Each end cap 29 has an upper face 30 and a lower face 3! which extend inwardly a short distance over the end of the slat. The cap 29 also has an endface 32 provided with an elongated opening 33 to permit the circulation of air through the corrugations 23 which extend throughout the length of the slat. As will be clear from Figs. 1, 2 and 4, the end face 32 of each cap acts as a retaining means for the filler piece 22 to prevent it from sliding out of position.

In the'modified slat construction illustrated in Fig. 5, a filler piece 35 similar to that shownin Figs. 1 to 4 is shown, but it has its side edge por tions 36 integral with and extending beyond the corrugated portion 31 thereof, which side edges 36 areinterlocked with the side edges of the upper and lower slat strips 14 and I when the latter are connected by double lock seams 38.

and are connected by fiat inclined portions 43.

The modified fourth form of filler member 44 shown in Fig. '7 is provided with arch-shaped corrugations 45.which have fiat portions 46 abutting the upper and lower strips l4 and I5. The fiat portions 46 are joined together by inclined portions 41. I

In the modified fifth form shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10, the filler 48 is formed from a fiat'strip of .sheet metal 49 having staggered elongated cup-shaped protuberances 50' struck up from one face 'ziereof. The filler .piece 48 may be as sembled in the slat ill by placing its fiat top face 5| so that it will abut the upper strip [4, with the protuberances 50 abutting the lower strip portion 15, whereby the air passage 52 through the slat will not be straight but will be interrupted and serpentine in form, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 9.

The sixth form of filler piece 53 shown in Fig. 11 is similar to that shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10, but instead of forming the protubera'nces all on one side of the strip 49, protuberances 54 and 55 are alternately struck up, first from one side of a strip 56, and then from the other side. When assembled between the upper and lower strip portions [4 and I5 of a slat Ill, the tops of the alternately directed protuberances 54' and 55 will abut against both of said strip portions 14 and I5, and will hold said strip 56 disposed in an intermediate position therebetween, whereby two serpentine insulating air passages 51 and-58 will be provided for the slat 10, one on either side of the strip 56.

One advantage of the present improved Venetian blind slat is that it cannot split, and hence, replacement or repairs will seldom by required. Moreover, the provision of the reinforcing filler members will not only maintain the slat strips l4 and I5 in spaced relation and prevent twist.- ing of the slat and provide for ventilation thereof, but also will provide an insulating air space when in closed position, whereby the blind will effectively act as an insulating medium. Furwidth of the filler member, a flat uncorrugated center portion 59 is provided in the filler member 60 shown in Fig. 12, and a pair of uncor rugatedside edge portions 6| are provided-in the filler member 62 shown in Fig. 13.

The modified forms of slats shown in Figs. 14 and 15 require no filler members whatsoever. In the form shown in Fig. 14, a pair of op- .posed inwardly directed grooved ribs 63' and 64 are formed in the upper and lower members 65 and 66 of the slat. The ribs 63 and 64 abut each other intermediate the members 65 and 66, reinforcethe slat, and hold the middle portlons thereof properly spaced apart.

- parting from its spirit.

derstood that each and every novel feature and In the modified form shown in Fig. 15, a pair of inwardly directed spaced-apart ribs 61 and 68 are formed on one of the side members of the slat and are extended across .the slat to engage the other side member thereof.

In both of the forms shown in Figs. 14 and 15, the ribs 63 and 64 and the ribs 61 and 68 are held in abutting relation against the opposite side member of the slat, respectively, by the clamping action of the elongated center eyelets 26.

While there have been disclosed in this specification several forms in which the invention may be embodied, it is to be understood that these forms are shown for the purpose of illustration only, and that the invention is not to be limited to the specific disclosures, but may be embodied in various other forms without de- It will be further uncombination present in or possessed by the device herein disclosed forms a part of the invention included in this application.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as'new and for which it is desired to secure Letters Patent, is:

1. A slat for Venetian blinds comprising spaced apart fiat face portions, and a metal longitudinally corrugated filler piece disposed between said face portions to retain them in spaced apart relation and to form ventilating air passages therebetween, the corrugations in said filler piece running the entire length thereof.

2. In a slat for a Venetian blind-comprising spaced-apart fiat upper and lower metallic face portions, a longitudinally corrugated metallic stiffening filler piece disposed between said face portions to retain them in spaced-apart relation and form insulating air spaces therebetween, and rubber silencing caps over each end of said slats, each caphaving an opening in its base for admitting air 'to ventilate said air spaces.

3. An all-metal slat for a Venetian blind comprising a pair of spaced-apart flat upper and lower metallic face portions, a metallic stiffener strip disposed between saidface portions, said strip having a plurality of nubs struck up therefrom for engaging said face portions to retain them in spaced-apart relation.

4. An all-metal slat for a Venetian blind comprising a pair ofspaced-apart fiat upper and lower metallic face portions, a metallic stiffener strip disposed between said face portions, said strip having a plurality of nubs struck up from both sides thereof for engaging said face portions to retain them in spaced-apart relation.

5. A slat for Venetian blinds comprising spaced-apart flat face portions, and a metal longitudinally corrugated filler piece disposed between said face portions to retain them in spacedapart relation and to form ventilating air passages therebetween, the corrugation of said filler piece being interrupted to provide a smooth section for reducing the amount of metal required.

6. A. hollow slat for Venetian blinds comprising a pair of connected spaced-apart flat parallel face strips, and longitudinally corrugated ,means between said strips to maintain the spacing thereof and provide ventilation therebetween.

OSCAR L. ENGSTROM. 

